EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Workforce Innovation and

Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Section 166, Indian and

Native American Programs Presented by:

U.S. Department of Labor

Division of Indian & Native American Programs

Today’s Presenter

Athena R. Brown

Division Chief

U.S. Department of Labor

Employment and Training Administration

Office of Workforce Investment

Division of Indian and Native American

Programs

Today’s Objectives

What the Workforce Innovation and

Opportunity Act (WIOA) Means for Us

Overview of WIOA, Section 166, Indian

and Native American (INA) Programs

Opportunities for Working Together

WIOA Final Rule

The Department of Labor (DOL) has collaborated with the Departments of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to draft the DOL-ED Joint Final Rule that includes regulations on Unified and Combined State Plans, performance, and the one-stop delivery system.

DOL also drafted the DOL-Only Final Rule that includes regulations on WIOA Title I and the Wagner-Peyser Act (which was amended by Title III of WIOA).

These Final Rules were publicly available on June 30, 2016.

WIOA General Information

Last week the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and

Human Services made publicly available an advance posting of the WIOA

Final Rules, which will be formally published in the Federal Register in the

upcoming weeks. In addition to the Final Rules, an interagency press

release, fact sheets, a quick reference guide, and FAQs were published;

visitors can view the Final Rules and these resources at

https://www.doleta.gov/wioa/.

The Innovation and Opportunity Network (ION) Community of Practice is a

great way to keep tabs on the latest WIOA developments and get your

hands on the latest resources to assist you with WIOA implementation.

The Division of Indian and Native American Programs also provides

employment and training information, guidance and legislative material on

the WorkforceGPS INA Community of Practice site at

https://ina.workforcegps.org/.

What WIOA Means for Us

• First major workforce development legislation

• Most provisions took effect on July 1, 2015

• Title I replaced the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

employment and training services for adults, dislocated

workers, and youth, as well as INA Programs

• Title II amended Adult Education and Literacy

Programs

• Title III amended Wagner-Peyser employment services

connecting employers with qualified job seekers

• Title IV amended Vocational Rehab services helping

individuals with disabilities work and being independent

Changes Under WIOA

WIOA regulations aligned the designation period

with the strategic plans.

WIOA requires that grants be competed every 4-

years as opposed to every 2-years under WIA; and

requires a 4-year plan as opposed to a 2-year plan

Emphasizes entrepreneurial skills by adding

language to the purpose of the program to equip

individuals with entrepreneurial skills

Maintains the Secretary’s Native American

Employment and Training Council

Changes Under WIOA

WIOA changed eligible youth to 14-24 years of age from 14 -21 under WIA.

Eligible youth must continue to be low-income to participate in the SYS program; but WIOA changed the definition of low-income to include any youth living in a “high poverty” area.

Final Rule reduces burden for plan review for grantees that have ongoing participation in Section 477

Performance measures changed to 6 indicators to mirror those of the state formula funded programs

Changes Under WIOA

Effectiveness in Serving Employers — This is a new performance indicator intended to enhance the focus of the One-Stop system in meeting employer needs. The NPRM proposed three separate methods to define this indicator: (a) employee retention with same employer (b) market penetration and (c) repeat business.

Customer Satisfaction — Unlike WIA, WIOA does not include customer satisfaction as a specific performance indicator. However, the Administration believes it is important to have information on customer satisfaction to assess how well the One-Stop system is meeting customer needs.

Changes Under WIOA

States’ Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDB)

have been significantly reduced in size by eliminating the

requirement that a representative from each of the one-

stop partners must be included. This means that Native

American grantees are no longer required members on

the LWDB.

Native American grantees shall not be subject to the

funding of the One-Stop Infrastructure unless otherwise

agreed upon in the Memorandum of Understanding

(MOU)

Changes Under WIOA

Authorizes the Secretary to award grants,

to entities with demonstrated experience

and expertise in developing and

implementing programs for the unique

populations who reside in Alaska or Hawaii

to improve job training and workforce

investment activities for such unique

populations.

Changes Under WIOA

INA grantees are now required to use the same 6

primary indicators of performance required by the state

formula funded programs...”

WIOA also requires that in addition to the primary

indicators of performance described in the state formula

programs, the Secretary, in consultation with the Native

American Advisory Council shall develop a set of

performance indicators and standards that shall be

applicable to the INA programs.

Overview of Section 166 INA

Programs

Every 4 years, the Secretary, on a competitive basis, makes grants to, or enters into contracts or cooperative agreements with Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Alaska Native entities, Indian controlled organizations serving Indians, or Native Hawaiian organizations

Administers programs to support employment and training activities for Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians

– to develop the academic, occupational and literacy skills of such

individuals;

– to make individuals more competitive in the workforce and to equip

them with entrepreneurial skills necessary for successful self-

employment; and

– to promote the economic and social development of Native

communities in accordance with the goals and values of such

communities.

Program Activities

On-the-job training

Hire first, train later

Classroom training

• Provide educational and technical skills

Work experience

• Develop desirable work habits and set specific occupational goals

Training assistance

• Provide help to transition from training and employment programs to unsubsidized employment

Other activities:

• General

• Supportive Services

INA Grantees

178 grantees currently funded under Section 166

Comprehensive Adult Services Program (CSP) receives

approximately 50 million

Supplemental Youth Services Program (SYS) receives 13 million

55 tribal grantees participating in the demonstration project under

Public Law 102-477

Grantees make final decisions as to the types of allowable activities

for which funds will be expended

Must meet minimum requirements of regulations, but, have great

flexibility in deciding the design of their respective programs

The programs (SYSP/CSP) operates on a Program Year basis;

grantee submits a four-year plan

Types of Programs

Services fall into two distinct categories for recipients

serviced by the grantees: adults and youth.

• Adult programs focus on the unemployed and the

underemployed

• Youth programs emphasize academic achievement

and skill base competencies for gainful employment

Participants

To be eligible, an individual must be:

• American Indian, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian

• Unemployed, underemployed, or a low-income

individual

• A recipient of a bona fide lay-off notice

• Employed but determined in need of E&T services to

obtain or retain employment that allows for self-

sufficiency

Opportunities for Working

Together

Key partners and services will be available at American

Job Centers (AJC) through the co-location of the

Wagner-Peyser Employment Service (UI) and the

addition of the TANF program as a mandatory partner.

UI services are now provided through the one-stop

delivery system and include both information and

assistance in filing claims.

Promotes program coordination and alignment of

employment, education, and training programs at the

Federal, State, local, and regional levels.

Opportunities for Working

Together

Makes key investments in serving disconnected

youth and other vulnerable populations, including

Indians and Native Americans and Migrant and

Seasonal Farmworkers.

Increases the performance and quality of the Job

Corps program.

Reinforces connections with Registered

Apprenticeship.

Opportunities for Working

Together

States and local areas are encouraged to improve

customer service and program management by

integrating intake, case management, and reporting

systems.

At a minimum, tribal TANF programs and the WIOA INA

Programs should closely coordinate services to clients.

Contact

Athena R. Brown

Division Chief

https://www.doleta.gov/dinap/

P(202) 693-3737

Brown.athena@dol.gov

Next Steps II

Empowering American Indians

TANF & Low Income Individuals

to Pursue Careers in Healthcare

Larry D. Anderson

Cankdeska Cikana Community College - Next Steps II

Population Served

• Statewide project with concentrations on Tribal

Nations in North Dakota

• Spirit Lake Nation in Fort Totten, ND

• Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Fort Yates, ND

• Three Affiliated Tribes in Fort Berthold, ND

• United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, ND

• Our Target Population is American Indians enrolled

in federally recognized Tribes, TANF, and Low

Income Individuals. Those who experienced

generations of poverty and socio-economic

hardships.

Population Served cont…

• Our objective is to break generational poverty

cycles by providing them with the necessary

support

• To successfully complete an educational and training

program in healthcare,

•

•

Secure gainful employment with a livable wage,

Break the generational poverty cycle and position them to

provide a better life for themselves and their families.

Program Model:

To achieve our objectives we have adopted a mentor model developed

by the University of North Dakota, College of Nursing, RAIN Program

(Recruitment and Retention of American Indians in Nursing)

• This model is a no excuses model and is founded on the basis of

providing an individual mentor assigned to each and every student.

• The mentor works intensively with the student by developing a

personal supportive relationship and assists the student with the

following.

• Navigating the educational process from start to finish by engaging with

the student in planning, problem solving, and overcoming adversity,

confronting barriers and obstacles

• Providing necessary supportive services such as child care and

transportation to help ensure there are indeed no excuses to completing

and achieving personal goals.

Program Model cont…

• Under this model the mentor is available 24-7 and guides the

student through the educational process and coaches and

mentors the skills necessary to succeed in education and in

life.

• In our program the mentor has the following responsibilities

• Recruitment and Retention

• Objective assessment eligibility

• Placement staff are provided to assist in securing employment for

the participant upon education and training completion based on the

relationship that had been developed in the mentoring process.

• This model proved to be very successful for us in Next Steps I

and is being replicated in Next Steps II.

Challenges:

• The majority of our participants are single mothers with

anywhere from 1 to 4 children.

• The greatest challenge in moving these individuals from

generational poverty, socio-economic hardship,

poor/limited academic preparation is instilling in the

individual the attitude and belief that they can do it, that

they can overcome and rise above the poverty that has

limited them and prevented them from achieving their

dreams and goals for themselves and their families.

• The program provides the means, but they have to

believe and be willing to put in the work and the effort to

make it happen.

Partnership & Relationship Building

• Established relationships to coordinate and colloborate

service delivery for targeted population with:

• Governor’s Workforce Development Council

• Our state’s Workforce Investment Board

• Department of Human Services Office of Economic

Assistance

• State TANF

• Tribal TANF

• Tribal Employment and Training, 477 Programs, Tribal NEW

• US DOL Office of Apprenticeship

• Private Healthcare Employers

Partnership Goals & Objectives

• Mentor staff Co-location in One Stop Career Centers

• WIOA Dedicated training positions and concurrent

enrollment for targeted applicants

• State TANF utilization of work experience where

necessary and appropriate for TANF recipients

• Tribal TANF, E & T, 477, and Tribal New cross referral

and con-current enrollments for applicants

• Develop and Establish a healthcare apprenticeship

program

• Private healthcare commitments to hire Next Steps

graduates and collaborate in healthcare training

• Serve on advisory council for Next Steps Program

Best Practices/Lessons Learned:

We learned early in our project that our target

population was poorly prepared and lacking

in the skills necessary to navigate the

education process successfully, but were also

deficit in the essential workplace skills

necessary to find and retain employment.

Best Practices/Lessons Learned cont…

• To address this challenge our project developed an

aggressive and ambitious employer engagement

initiative that called for:

• Engaging with employers in the state to bring them into

our program make them aware of our program.

• Developing trust with them that our program produces well

qualified well prepared employees to help them meet their

workforce needs.

• This involved developing relationships with employers a

network of employers who we partnered with in guiding

and directing our program through an Employer Advisory

Council.

Best Practices/Lessons Learned cont…

• Our employer engagement went beyond an

advisory approach but included an assessment of

workforce needs with employers through a series of

Workforce Development Workshops we conducted

to engage with employers directly on approaching

workforce shortages, Apprenticeship and our

program.

• In addition to address the essential workplace skills

for our graduating students we developed an

employability skills workshop that worked to instill

the necessary workplace skills including:

• Skills in how to look for work, where to look for work, how

to interview and finally how to retain employment.

Best Practices/Lessons Learned cont…

• Participants worked in groups and one-on-one

developing skills with resumes, cover letters,

interview process and job retention skills.

• In Next Steps II we are building on these workshops

and plan to work to develop essential leadership

and life skills including:

• Communications

• Team building/group dynamics

• Conflict management/problem solving

• Leadership skills in the workplace and in life

Next Steps II

•Building better lives for

individual and their families:

•Addressing critical

workforce needs in our

state:

•Questions

Creating Tribal TANF & WIOA Partnerships to Connect

Tribal Families to Employment

Christina Arzate Workforce Development Coordinator III California Indian Manpower Consortium, Inc.

Yvette Yazzie Site Manager Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association Tribal TANF Program

Partnership

CIMC and SCTCA Tribal TANF have established a partnership to provide services to our mutual clientele. These services result in employment and supplemental services for our participants and their family.

Collaboration Activities Include:

• Informal Referral

• Shared Assessment/Case Management

• Coordination/Cost Sharing for Training

• Coordination/Cost Sharing for Supportive Services

• Shared Follow-Up for Secured Employment

Case Examples:

• Occupational Skills Training – Solar Systems Installation

– Elder Care Provider

– Building IIPAY Nation, Construction

– Entrepreneurial Training

– Vocational Training

• On-The-Job Training Activities – Tribal Enterprises and Government

Case Examples:

• Work Experience

– Indian Health Council

– Tribal Government and Entities

• Job Search and Placement

– Register for Native Hire

– Share Job Local Announcements

– Soft Skills training and Job

Readiness

Accomplishments &

Outcomes • Our clients were able to secure long

term employment to become self-

sufficient

• TANF case closed

• No longer dependent on public

assistance

• Empowered them to be a role model to

their children and community

Questions or Comments

Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association, Tribal TANF

WWW.SCTCA.NET California Indian Manpower

Consortium, Inc. WWW.CIMCINC.ORG